Electro-amalgamating machine.



J. OGDEN.

ELECTRO AMALGAMATING MACHiNE.

APPLICATION min MAR. M. 1916- 1 292,006 Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

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J. OGDEN.

ELECTRO AMALGAMATING MACmNE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. 1916.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

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JOHN OGDEN, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO OGDEN ELECTED METALS RECOVERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRO-AMALGAMATING MACHENE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. it, 191$.

Application filed hiarch 14, 1916. Serial No. 84,100.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Join: OGDEN, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electro-Amalgamating Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electro-amalgamating machines, an object of the invention being to-provide an improved construction and arrangement of rotary anodes movable through the bath and located at the desired angle to prevent a too great agitation and to reduce resistance of movement to a minimum.

A further object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of stationary cathode consisting of acone, preferably of copper or other suitable metal, having an annular gutter containing mercury, and having an extended mercury coated amalgamating surface which is kept clear of accumulating mud or dirt by rotary anodes.

A further object is to provide an amalgamating machine in which the pulp is kept in circulation from the bottom of the' tank again into the top of the tank, so that the operation is repeated until all the gold or other precious metalhas been recovered.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. f In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in vertical section illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is a view in section on the line 22 of Fig. l, and Fi 3 is a view in section on the line 3-3 0 Fig. 1.

1 represents a tank which has a tapering bottom 2, having an outlet pipe 3 at the lower end thereof with a drain cock 4. located in said outlet pipe.

5 is a return pipe having a pump 5* between its ends, and this return pipe is connected to the outlet pipe 3 above the drain cock 4, and at its upper end discharges into the tank 1, so that the pulp 103.11 be returned to the top of the tank as often as it is desirpdd to eflect the complete recovery of the 0 g 6 represents a, conical cathodewhich is preferably, although not necessarily, of cop per having an annular gutter? containing mercury 8.

The cathode 6 has a surface coating 9 also of mercury, which presents an extended amalgamating surface, and the gutter 7 with its mercury 8, acts as a trap over which the particles must move, and hence insure a contact of the gold with the mercury. lhe

cathode 6 is removably supported on an annular internal flange 10, having openings 11 therein, through which the pulp-flows to the bottom of the tank. Cathode 6 is removable, so that it can be removed from time to time with its precious metal. A vertical shaft 12 is supported centrally in tank 1, and projects through a bearing 13 in a spider 14-, the latter secured in the top'of the tank as shown. A series of angularly disposed anodes 15 are supported by shaft 12, and project from opposite sides of the shaft. All of these inclined anodes 15 are constructed alike, and the description hereinafter of one will apply alike to all.

Each anode 15 preferably comprises two or more graphite plates 16, although any other form of carbon plate might be used. These plates 16 are secured to a frame 1'? and the latter has a trunnion 18- at one end which projects into a recess 19 in a collar 20 on shaft 12. The trunnion 18 may be turned at any desired angle in the recess 19, and secured at such angle by a set screw 21, so that the angular disposition of each anode can be varied to suit conditions. The lowest pair of anodes 22 are preferably rigidly secured to a collar 23 on the shaft 12, and

the lower edges 24 of these lower anodes 22 v are beveled or inclined, so that they'are located parallel t9 the surface of the conical cathode 9, and operate to prevent any accumulation of ore, mud, etc, on the surface of the cathode.

25 represents a distributer which is of general conical shape having openings 26 in its central portion, and into this distributer the pipe 5 discharges the returning pulp, and the distributer operates to move the pulp toward the center of the tank, so that it will move downwardly onto the apex of the conical cathode 6.

The shaft 12 has a swiveled electrical connection 27, constitutingthe" positive pole of an electric circuit, and the minus pole of said circuit consists of contact 28 which projects through a sleeve 2% of insulation,

sleeve located in the wall of tank 1, so that the contact 28 engages the cathode 6. Shaft 12 may, of course, be turned in any approved manner, and I have illustrated a pulley 30 on the upper end of the shaft turned by means of a belt 31.

It is to be understood; of course, that in connection with my improved machine, I may carry out various processes, but a preferred operation is to mix with the ground ore and water, chlorid of sodium and bichlorid of mercury or other suitable re-agents to form an electrolyte.

The passage of the current through the electrolyte from the anodes to the cathodes will compel a deposit of the gold on the cathode, and by reason of the shape of the cathode, the pulp will be subjected to an eX- tendcd amalgamating surface, and an effective operation will be assured. The pulp will be returned from the bottom of the tank to the top of the tank, and the operation continued until all of the gold-is recovered. The cathode 6 will be silver plated or covered with mercury, and the gutter 7 will contain a sufficient amount of mercury to insure a proper amalgainating operation.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty .to make such changes'and alterations as fairly fall within the-spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electro-amalgamating machine, the combination with a tank of a conical cathode in the lower portion of the tank, and anodes 1n the upper portion of said tank above said conical cathode, and means for circulating ore solution between the anodes and cathode, substantially as described.

In an electro-amalgamating machine, the combination with a tank, of a cathode in the lower portion of the tank, and anode plates rotatable in paths above said cathode, said plates being inclined to the axis of retation, substantially as described.

In an electro-amalganratiii' machine, the 'con'ibination with a tank, of a conical cathode, a rotary shaft in the tank above said cathode, anode plates carried by the shaft, and means for securing said anode plates at an angle to the shaft to intercept material passing downwardly through said tank, substantially as describe 4. In an electro-amalgamatin machine, the combination with a tank, 0 a conical cathode in the lower portion of the tank, a series of rotary anodes in the tank and positioned above the cathodc certainof said anodes having a portion substantially parallel with and adapted to prevent accumulation of material on the surface of the oathode, substantially as described.

5. In an electro-amalgamating machine, the combination with a tank, a conical cathode in the lower portion of the tank, rotary anodes in the upper portion of the tank, and means for returning the pulp from the bottom of the tank to the top thereof, substan tially as described.

6. In an electro-amalgamatin machine, the combination with a tank, of a conical cathode supported in the tank, a shaft centrally mounted in the tank, and anodes positioned above said cathode and secured to turn with the shaft, substantially as described.

7. In an electro-amalgamating machine,

the combination with a tank, of a conical cathode supported in the tank, a shaft centrally mounted in the tank, anodes positioned above said cathode and secured to turn with the shaft, the lowest of said anodes having their edges located parallel to the surface of the cathode, substantially as described.

8. In an electro-amalgamating machine,

the combination with a tank, of a conical cathode supported in the tank, a shaft centrally mounted in the tank, anodes positioned above said cathode and secured to turn with the shaft, means for conveying the pulp from the bottom of the tank to the top thereof, and a distributer secured on the shaft and into which the returned pulp is directed, substantially as described.

9. In an electro-amalgamating machine, the combination with a tank having an internal annular perforated flange near its bottom, of a conical cathode having its base sup orted onsaid flange, and rotary anodes in t e tank above the cathode, substantially as described.

10. ,In an electro-amaligamating machine, the combination with a tank having an internal annular perforated flange near its bottom, of a conical cathode supported on said flange, a shaft supported centrally in the tank, and a plurality of annularly positioned anodes supported on the shaft and moved thereby, said anodes being positioned above said conical cathode, substantially as 'escribed.

l1. In an electroamalgamatin machine the combination with a tank, 0 a co'nicai cathode in the tank, a central shaft in the tank, anodes secured on said shaft above sai "cathode, means for turning the shaft, and n'i'eans for compelling a circulation of pul throu 'h the tank past the anodes and cathode, su stahtially as described.

2. In an electro-amalgamating machine, the combination with a tank, of a conical cathode in the tank, a central shaft in the tan anodes secured on said shaft above said cathode, means for turning the shaft, an outlet pipe inv the bottom of the tank having an outlet cock therein, a return pipe communicating with the outlet pipe between the cock and the tank, and at its upper end discharging into the upper end of the tank, and a pump located between the ends of the return pipe, substantially as described.

13. In an electro-amalgamatin machine, the combination with a tank, 0 a conical cathode supported Within said tank, an upright member, means for moving said member relatively to the cathode, a plurality of anode plates carried by said member, substantially as described.

14. In an electro-amalgamating machine, the combination with a tank, of a conical cathode supported within said tank, an upright shaft, a plurality of anode plates above said cathode and carried by said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, said plates being disposed at an angle to intercept material passing downwardly through said tank in its direction toward said cat11- ode, substantially as described.

15. In an electro-amalgamating machine, the combination with a tank, of a cathode in said tank having its entire uppermost surface inclined, and a plurality of anodes positioned above said cathode, said cathode being positioned below said anodes, substantially as described.

16. In an electro-amalgamating machine, the combination with a cylindrical tank, of a conical cathode positioned within said tank with its apex extending-upwardly, said base of the conical cathode being of less diameter than the internal diameter of the tank, said tank having a portion extending below" the base of the cathode whereby material may fall through the space between the base of said cathode and the tank, and

anodes positioned above said cathode, and means for circulating ore solution between the anodes and cathode, substantially as described.

Oopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the 17. In an electro-amalgamating machine, the combination with a cylindrical tank, of a conical cathode positioned within said tank with its apex extending upwardly, said base of the conical cathode being of less diameter than the internal diameter of the tank, said tank having a portion extending below the base of the cathode whereby material may fall through the space between the base of said cathode and the tank, an upright shaft supported in said tank in substantial alinement with the axis of said conical cathode, anodes carried by said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft, substantially as described.

18. In an electro-amalagmatiug machine,

the combination with a cylindrical tank, of a conical cathode positioned within said tank with its apex extending upwardly, said base of the conical cathode being of less diameter than the internal diameter of the tank, said tank having a portion extending below the base of the cathode whereby material may fall through the space between the vbase of said cathode and the tank, an upright shaft supported in said tank in substantial alinement with the axis of said conical cathode, anode plates radially disposed with respect to and carried by said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft, substantially as described.

19. In an electro-amalgamating machine, the combination of a tank, a conical cathode positioned within said. tank and having an annular gutter, a plurality of anodes positioned above said cathode, and means for circulating ore solution between the anodes and cathode, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN OGDEN. Witnesses.

RHODA E. GILLrEs, C. E. Por'rs.

"Commissioner of Patents.

Washington. D. 0. 

